Healthy Meal Prep Tips: How to Meal Prep on a Budget

Eating healthy while sticking to a budget can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. Meal prepping is a great way to save money and eat healthy, but many people think that it is too expensive. We like to say, “if there’s a will, there’s a way!” In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to meal prep on a budget.

The first step in meal prepping on a budget is to plan your meals and know where to get the ingredients from. Take some time to sit down and plan out your meals for the week including collecting any coupons in your emails that you have for the grocery store. Look for recipes that are budget-friendly and use ingredients that you already have on hand. Planning your meals ahead of time will help you avoid buying unnecessary ingredients and reduce food waste.

Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on groceries. Look for stores that offer bulk items like rice, beans, and pasta. There are some great stores in Calgary that you can purchase bulk items in. This is also super helpful if you are feeding multiple people in your household. Buying in bulk can help you save money in the long run as these items are often cheaper than buying them in smaller quantities and individually each time you go to the store.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great option for meal prepping on a budget. The technology has come very far in the last 10 years with frozen fruits and vegetables, which makes them a great option to throw into your healthy meal prep routine. Also, living in Calgary means our seasons are short for local fruits and vegetables. Going for a frozen option can mean they are often cheaper than fresh produce and have a longer shelf life. Throw some frozen fruits and vegetables in a variety of dishes like smoothies, stir-fries, and soups to add an extra boost of vitamins and minerals!

Meat can be one of the most expensive items on your grocery list, but there are ways to save money on it. Look for cheaper cuts of meat like chicken thighs or beef chuck roast. These cuts of meat are often cheaper than their counterparts and can be used in a variety of dishes. Using different cuts of meat will also help if you’re wanting to balance out your week with meals that have different kinds of protein in them. Instead of planning to do chicken or steak for your meal prep each day, pick 2-3 proteins with 1 of them being more expensive so that you can balance out the cost of your groceries.

Cooking in batches is a great way to save time and money. Similar idea to the purchasing in bulk to save money, when you cook in bulk it can also save you on both time and money. When you are meal prepping, make large batches of dishes like soups, stews, and casseroles. These dishes can be divided into portions and frozen for later use.

A slow cooker is a great investment for meal prepping on a budget. Slow cookers use less energy than an oven and can turn cheaper cuts of meat into delicious and tender meals. Just as we mentioned above, you can also use a slow cooker to cook in bulk and make large batches of dishes that can be frozen for later use.

The saying goes “time is money” and if your time is better spent doing something else (which in most cases it is,) leave the meal prep to the professionals at Nutrimeals. If you don't have the time or energy to meal prep, ordering from Nutrimeals can be a great option. We offer a variety of meal prep options that are healthy, delicious, and affordable. Nutrimeals is the go to place for healthy meal prep delivery in Calgary!

In conclusion, meal prepping on a budget is possible with a little bit of planning and creativity. By using these tips and tricks, you can save money on groceries and eat healthy at the same time. If you need help with meal prep, consider ordering from a local meal prep company like Nutrimeals. They offer affordable and healthy meal options that can help you stay on track with your budget and your health goals.